Five women were killed and four others injured after a construction crane fell on a house in Phsar Kandal district, in Poipet, Banteay Meanchey province.

All nine victims were women living near the site, provincial police chief Ath Khem said on Wednesday, adding that they were sitting inside one of their houses when the crane fell at around 3pm.

“We sent the four injured to Banteay Meanchey referral hospital. The bodies of the five who were killed were sent to pagodas or their houses.

“The victims are residents living there. They are not construction workers. The crane fell outside the company’s land,” Khem said.

The five dead are Chhean Hong, 44, Dem Soknak, 29, Loeub Lak, 55, Seng Muykea (age unknown) and Chov Ly, 57.

Banteay Meanchey provincial Adhoc coordinator Sum Chankea said he has requested the government to strengthen measures on owners of construction sites to prevent similar accidents.

“The owner of the site must take legal responsibility for this case if the offence happened due to carelessness,” he said.

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